MLB Player News
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Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Starting at first Wednesday
Giants manager Bob Melvin said that Schmitt will start at first base against left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez in Wednesday's game versus the Astros, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The 26-year-old Schmitt pinch hit for LaMonte Wade against lefty Steven Okert in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Astros. Schmitt remained in the game and played first base for the first time in his big-league career, though he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. There's a good chance that Schmitt will receive more playing time at first base against lefties moving forward, and he's been taking grounders with Wade and Wilmer Flores to familiarize himself with the position.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: On bench for third straight game
McCutchen remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
For the third game in a row, McCutchen finds himself out of the lineup. The Pirates haven't indicated that McCutchen is dealing with an injury, and the 38-year-old came off the bench in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay and recorded a base hit in a ninth-inning pinch-hitting appearance. Rather than because of his own health, McCutchen's recent absences seem to be a byproduct of Bryan Reynolds dealing with right tricep soreness, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com. Reynolds has still been able to take at-bats without discomfort while he manages the injury, so he'll remain in the lineup at designated hitter for the third straight game while Jack Suwinski fills in for him in right field. Once Reynolds is ready to play the outfield again, McCutchen could be prioritized over Suwinski.
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Christian Yelich LF | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: First day off Wednesday
Yelich is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Yelich cranked his first home run of the season Tuesday, but he will receive his first day off for Wednesday's afternoon contest. Isaac Collins is at designated hitter and batting third for Milwaukee.
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Christian Yelich LF | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: Smashes first homer of season
Yelich went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, a walk, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Royals.
After grounding out to drive in a run in the third inning, Yelich added an insurance run for the Brewers with a solo shot in the eighth frame. The star left fielder is slashing just .125/.300/.313 over 16 at-bats (five games), so he's cooled off quite a bit to begin the campaign after hitting .353 with three homers and 11 RBI over 36 plate appearances during spring training.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: On bench versus lefty
Sheets is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Sheets started the previous four games -- all against right-handed starting pitchers -- and has gone 7-for-14 with two doubles, a homer and five RBI this season, but he'll sit Tuesday while lefty Logan Allen takes the mound for Cleveland. Yuli Gurriel will continue to fill the small side of the platoon at designated hitter and bat sixth.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Out of lineup again Tuesday
McCutchen is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Rays.
McCutchen isn't dealing with any known injury, but he's now been absent from the Pirates' lineup for three of the last four games. Bryan Reynolds is getting a start in the designated hitter spot, while Jack Suwinski is covering right field.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Taking seat Tuesday
Steer is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Rangers.
Steer has now started three of the first five games this season, as the Reds don't want to overload him as he comes back from his right shoulder injury. All three of Steer's starts have been at designated hitter, and it's not clear when he might be ready to play the field. Gavin Lux is at DH on Tuesday while Blake Dunn covers left field.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Plays back-to-back days
Steer went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Monday's 14-3 win over the Rangers.
Steer, who served as the designated hitter, was in the starting lineup for a second straight day, which indicates his lingering shoulder discomfort presents no limitations other than when it comes to playing the field. Monday's hit was his first of the season. Steer had gone 0-for-10 before a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Propels team with four RBI
Sheets went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, two runs and four RBI in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Guardians.
San Diego fell behind in the first inning on a Jose Ramirez solo home run, but Sheets gave the Padres the lead with his two-run double in the second. He added another two-run doublein the fifth, giving him four total RBI in the game. Sheets signed with San Diego on a minor-league deal in February and earned a spot on the team's Opening Day roster due to a standout spring training. He's been working as the Padres' primary designated hitter and is off to a fantastic start to the season, slashing .500/.533/.857 with a home run, three runs, five RBI and a stolen base through 15 plate appearances.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Getting night off
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.
McCutchen will sit for the second time this season after he made three starts during the Pirates' four-game series with the Marlins last week. Bryan Reynolds will get a day off from outfield duty and will occupy the designated-hitter spot while McCutchen hits the bench.